Dryland Farming Project
More than two thirds of the population of Kenya rely on the food they grow and the animals they keep to survive. Yet droughts are increasing in frequency and many people are struggling to grow enough food on their dry land to feed their families - let alone have surplus to sell.
The Kitui and Mwingi districts of Kenya are particularly prone to drought. This project is helping farmers in these districts to successfully grow their crops in dry areas. 6,000 farmers are being provided with seeds, tools and equipment to grow drought-tolerant crop varieties on their land.
Farmers are also receiving training in techniques to improve the quality of their soil. As part of this, tree seedlings will be planted to conserve soil nutrients. The construction of boreholes, dams and ditches will also improve access to water.
How are communities benefitting?
- 1,000 farmers, in 42 groups, have the opportunity to trial drought-tolerant crops and modern farming technologies. Each group has access to a demonstration plot, where they receive a variety of agricultural training before trialling different crops on their own land to find out what works best for them.
- Farmers are trialling a range of seeds including sorghum (a type of grain), cassava and sweet potato. Growing a wide range of crops reduces the risks associated with relying on one crop for survival. And rotating different crops will help to improve soil quality and therefore increase the productivity of the land.
- Farmers are also learning how to retain soil nutrients and water in the soil, which will help to improve its quality. They are also being trained to build ditches, terraces and cut off drains as well as learning about other good agricultural practices and techniques.
Who are we helping?
All 1,000 farmers will go on to train six other farmers in dryland farming techniques - bringing the benefits to a further 6,000 farmers. This means the project will ultimately benefit 7,000 farming families in the Kitui and Mwingi districts of Kenya.
Project Partners
FARM-Africa is working together with the Kitui Mwingi Dairy Goat Breeders Association.
Media
Read an article from The Guardian about our Dryland Farming Project following a visit made by one of its journalists to Kitui.
Mbuvi's Story
Mbuvi Mutua is 40 years old. He and his wife Kalekye, 35, have four children: Mutua, Mukai, Kilonzi and Muema. The family lives on a farm in Mwingi district. They rely on their small plot of land to provide all their income. Before they had our help, they struggled to survive on what they grew – Mbuvi couldn’t even afford to send all his children to school.
As part of a previous FARM-Africa project, we gave Mbuvi the materials and training he needed to construct a well. After working for several months, he secured an essential source of water and so was able to set up a kitchen garden. Tomatoes, kale, mangoes and other nutritious fruit and vegetables now grow in abundance.
Once Mbuvi had cultivated his kitchen garden, he wanted to transform the rest of his land and improve the future for his family. And so he volunteered to participate in the Dryland Farming Project, “to get knowledge… about how to space seeds and grow crops.”
As a Lead Farmer, Mbuvi was given 28kgs of a variety of high-quality, drought-tolerant seeds – including green grams, cow peas, sorghum and millet. Preparing a demonstration plot of land alongside a Champion Farmer, he learnt about planting and production techniques – such as the correct depths and spaces at which to sow his seeds.
For Mbuvi, the decision to get involved in the Dryland Farming Project has been life-changing. His land is bursting with healthy crops. His family have a reliable and sustainable source of nutritious food. And his dream of escaping poverty looks to be coming true. With the money he’ll earn from selling his extra produce, Mbuvi plans to build a new home, buy more land and send all his children to school.
Project continues to benefit Kenyans threatened by increasing drought and rising food prices
FARM-Africa's Dryland Farming Project continues to impact positively on the lives of vulnerable Kenyans, despite increasing drought and rocketing food prices. Crop yields and access to water have been increased.
Seeds, tools and training are reaping rewards for farmers in Kenya
In 2010 we trained over 6,600 Kenyan farmers in dryland farming techniques and provided them with the seeds and tools they needed to put these techniques into practice. Read more here
Kenya: Dryland farmers learn water conservation techniques
In Kitui and Mwingi districts of Kenya, 28 demonstration plots have been established in the last three months to help farmers to successfully grow their crops in these dry areas. Farmers are being provided with seeds, tools and on-site training to grow drought-tolerant crop varieties on their land.
First official open day for Dryland Farming Project in Kenya
Community leaders, members of the public, project staff and project beneficiaries alike gathered in Eastern Kenya last week to mark the official open day for FARM-Africa’s Dryland Farming Project.
Watch David, a Kenyan farmer, talking about what he has learnt from the Dryland Farming Project
David, a farmer from Kitui & Mwingi districts, Kenya, talks about what his farmers' group has learnt from the Dryland Farming Project. Click here to watch the video.
